monotonous [muh- not -n-uhs] ( adj .)

1. monotonous[muh-not-n-uhs](adj.) • The teacher’s lecture seemed very monotonous today, and Beatrice fell asleep during class.

2. monotonous[muh-not-n-uhs] (adj.) • boring, repetitious, lacking variety • The teacher’s lecture seemed very monotonous today, and Beatrice fell asleep during class.

3. timid [tim-id] (adj.) • The puppy was very timid around the other dogs at the dog park.

4. timid [tim-id] (adj.) • scared, shy, fearful • The puppy was very timid around the other dogs at the dog park.

5. vanquish [vang-kwish] (v.) • The fierce gladiator vanquished the weaker opponent.

6. vanquish [vang-kwish] (v.) • to defeat or conquer • The fierce gladiator vanquished the weaker opponent.

7. hostile [hos-tahyl] (adj.) • The soldiers were in a fierce battle in a hostile region of Iraq.

8. hostile [hos-tahyl] (adj.) • warlike, aggressive, enemy-like • The soldiers were in a fierce firefight in a hostile region of Iraq.

9. vulnerable [vuhl-ner-uh-buhl](adj.) • The wounded zebra was vulnerable to attack by the lion.

10. vulnerable [vuhl-ner-uh-buhl](adj.) • easily hurt; weak and open to attack • The wounded zebra was vulnerable to attack by the lion.

11. wretched [rech-id](adj.) • The student got in trouble and was given the wretched job of sweeping the dirty school hallways late on Friday afternoon.

12. wretched [rech-id](adj.) • miserable, sorrowful, pitiful • The student got in trouble and was given the wretched job of sweeping the dirty school hallways late on Friday afternoon.

13. sympathetic [sim-puh-thet-ik] (adj.) • The businesswoman was sympathetic to the homeless man and gave him a dollar.

14. sympathetic [sim-puh-thet-ik] (adj.) • sharing feelings, relating to others through emotion • The businesswoman was sympathetic to the homeless man and gave him a dollar.

15. quota [kwoh-tuh] (n.) • The mean boss gave his employee a quota requiring him to catch 2,000 pounds of fish a week.

16. quota [kwoh-tuh] (n.) • a number or percentage that is required • The mean boss gave his employee a quota requiring him to catch 2,000 pounds of fish a week.

17. vivid [viv-id] (adj.) • The painter used such vivid colors that the painting seemed to jump out at you.

18. vivid [viv-id] (adj.) • having brilliant color; lifelike and descriptive • The painter used such vivid colors that the painting seemed to jump out at you.

19. lackadaisical [lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl] (adj.) • The lackadaisical bear just wanted to chill.

20. lackadaisical [lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl] (adj.) • lazy, without care or interest • The lackadaisical bear just wanted to chill.

21. treacherous [trech-er-uhs] (adj.) • Driving along the steep curvy road was a real treacherous experience.

22. treacherous [trech-er-uhs] (adj.) • dangerous or hazardous • Driving along the steep curvy road was a real treacherous experience.

23. divulge [dih-vuhlj] (v.) • You should never divulge important personal information to anyone you don’t know.

24. divulge [dih-vuhlj] (v.) • to make known, tell, reveal • You should never divulge important personal information to anyone you don’t know.

25. belligerent [buh-lij-er-uhnt] (adj.) • The belligerent coach disagreed with the referee’s call and threw a chair.

26. belligerent [buh-lij-er-uhnt] (adj.) • angry, aggressive, or combative • The belligerent coach disagreed with the referee’s call and threw a chair.

27. gradually [graj-oo-uhlly] (adv.) • The hills rose gradually in the distance into larger mountains.

28. gradually [graj-oo-uhlly] (adv.) • little by little, by small degrees • The hills rose gradually in the distance into larger mountains.

29. fluctuate [fluhk-choo-eyt] (v.) • The prices of many products fluctuate based on supply and demand.

30. fluctuate [fluhk-choo-eyt] (v.) • to shift back and forth; to change constantly • The prices of many products fluctuate based on supply and demand.

31. eloquent [el-uh-kwuhnt] (adj.) • Martin Luther King, Jr., gave eloquent public speeches that captivated thousands.

32. eloquent [el-uh-kwuhnt] (adj.) • well spoken, using good speech • Martin Luther King, Jr., gave eloquent public speeches that captivated thousands.

33. melancholy [mel-uhn-kol-ee] (n.) • The girl was melancholy after breaking up with her boyfriend.

34. melancholy [mel-uhn-kol-ee] (n.) • feeling sad or depressed • The girl was melancholy after breaking up with her boyfriend.

35. arrogant [ar-uh-guhnt] (adj.) • The rich, arrogant guy always seemed to be showing off all his expensive things.

36. arrogant [ar-uh-guhnt] (adj.) • feeling overly proud or superior • The rich, arrogant guy always seemed to be showing off all his expensive things.

37. vivacious [vi-vey-shuhs] (adj.) • The vivacious cheerleaders encouraged the fans to cheer on the team.

38. vivacious [vi-vey-shuhs] (adj.) • lively or spirited, enthusiastic • The vivacious cheerleaders encouraged the fans to cheer on the team.

39. cliché [klee-shay] (n.) • Watch any sporting event and you’re sure to hear some of these common clichés.

40. cliché [klee-shay] (n.) • an idea or phrase that has become overused and stale • Watch any sporting event and you’re sure to hear some of these common clichés.

41. murmur [mur-mer] (n., v.) • The campers enjoyed falling asleep to the murmur of the stream. • The student in the back row murmured something underneath her breath.

42. murmur [mur-mer] (n., v.) • a low, continuous sound; to mumble • The campers enjoyed falling asleep to the murmur of the stream. • The student in the back row murmured something underneath her breath.

43. alleviate [a-lee-vee-ayt] (v.) • Amanda had a cold and really wanted some aspirin to alleviate her headache.

44. alleviate [a-lee-vee-ayt] (v.) • to lessen pain or tension • Amanda had a cold and really wanted some aspirin to alleviate her headache.

45. predicament [pri-dik-uh-muhnt ] (n.) • Paul was in a real predicament because he was late for curfew and wrecked his dad’s car.

46. predicament [pri-dik-uh-muhnt ] (n.) • a difficult and troublesome situation • Paul was in a real predicament because he was late for curfew and wrecked his dad’s car.

47. rant [rant ] (v.) • Although grandpa was usually a laid- back person, he could rant for hours if you got him going on politics.

48. rant [rant ] (v.) • to talk very loudly, wildly or go on at length • Although grandpa was usually a laid- back person, he could rant for hours if you got him going on politics.

49. idealistic[ahy-dee-uh-lis-tik] (adj.) • The idealistic young man wanted to end world poverty and environmental problems.

50. idealistic[ahy-dee-uh-lis-tik] (adj.) • believing in the power to positively change the world • The idealistic young man wanted to end world poverty and environmental problems.